What a way to start the series... it was like 2005 all over again!

Ricky Ponting played in 35 Ashes Tests, including many nail-biters — at Edgbaston, Old Trafford and Trent Bridge in 2005, and Cardiff in 2009. But the Test that finished in Nottingham on Sunday with a 14-run win for England was as tense as any of them. Here, the former Australia captain gives Sportsmail his verdict.

The tension

It suddenly feels a bit like 2005 all over again, when an entire nation was gripped by Ashes fever. I took my girls to the London Eye on Sunday night and two of the security guards started chanting at me: ‘14 runs! 14 runs!’ So it seems there’ll be no getting away from the Ashes this summer — and that’s great for the game, great for Test cricket.

What a start: England celebrate as the wicket of Brad Haddin secures a memorable 14-run win

On the first two days of the Test, I was playing for Surrey against Nottinghamshire at The Oval, and all the guys out in the middle wanted to talk about was what was going on at Trent Bridge. It’s hard to recall a Test match swinging one way then the other so often.

On the last day, the Surrey boys had training in the morning until 12.30pm, so I missed the first three Australian wickets to fall, then stayed in the changing rooms until lunch to watch Brad Haddin and James Pattinson put together a few runs.

I rushed home during the interval and watched the rest on my couch. It was pretty heartbreaking, both for me and for the guys in Nottingham. And it reminded me of the tension at Edgbaston eight years ago, when we were counting down the runs but lost by two, and at Cardiff in 2009, when England hung on for a draw. Ashes cricket just seems to keep on serving up these amazing matches.

High drama: England celebrate after beating Australia at Edgbaston in 2005

I’m a fan of the Decision Review System for the simple reason that it gets more decisions correct than used to be the case. The fact that there was some chat about the technology during the first Test had more to do, I believe, with some of the decisions that were made by the officials than any problems with the DRS.

It can be hard for the players at times to accept that, while some marginal decisions get upheld — such as an lbw that is clipping the outside of leg stump — more obvious errors sneak through, especially when you’ve run out of referrals. (And I think we all know I’m talking about Stuart Broad here.) But that’s the way the system works, and you have to be smart about using it.

There was some talk about the lbw review Australia used up against Jonny Bairstow when the ball was clearly missing leg stump.

If they hadn’t used it, they could still have got Broad out. But, personally, I’m for any system that alleviates the pressure on the umpires, who are already under the microscope in such an important series.

Staying put: Broad is incredibly given not out by Aleem Dar on day three

To walk or not?

You’ll not find an Australian cricketer criticising Broad for refusing to walk. Nothing would have been said to Broad out in the middle, and the truth is that probably 95 per cent of cricketers in the history of the game would have done what Broad did. I don’t blame him at all — though I had to admire his acting skills. Despite such an obvious nick, he just patted down the pitch, took guard again and went and talked to his mate at the other end.

However, I can’t understand why the focus was on whether Broad should have walked or not. For me, the issue was how such a terrible decision could have been made in the first place by Aleem Dar.

I know that it was made to look worse because the ball ended up at first slip after cannoning off Haddin. But I can’t remember a bigger deviation being missed in that way by a top-class official.

As for Broad not walking, just take it on the chin and move on. That’s Test cricket.

Test to forget: Aleem Dar (centre) made some uncharacteristic errors

Ashton Agar

That innings on the second day was all about the beauty of youthful exuberance. He would have had no thoughts in his mind when he went out to bat, other than trying to enjoy himself.

I remember playing against him during the Sheffield Shield for Tasmania against Western Australia in February. We’d set WA about 350, and he got 71 not out from No 8 to win it for them by two wickets. So I knew he could bat.

However, to score 98 on your Test debut in the Ashes when your team has just slipped to 117 for nine is just amazing. Especially as, like 99 per cent of people, I had no idea he was going to play in Nottingham.

Star in the making: Ashton Agar (centre) impressed with both bat and ball

I also believe he didn’t let anyone down with the ball, and the more experience he gets, the better he’ll become. I feel a bit for Nathan Lyon, who was dropped to make way for Agar. he is a terrific bowler and a great bloke to have around the team. But Australia seem to have unearthed a real talent here.

Ian Bell

I just thought Bell understood the conditions very well. There wasn’t much pace on the ball and he scored a lot of his runs behind point, which showed he had worked out a game plan. He said that’s the best Ashes innings he’s played, and that’s good enough for me!

He’s had a few issues in the past against Australia, but to score runs in the heat of the battle, when you’re the only specialist batsman left, and for those runs to make the difference between victory and defeat — there’s no better feeling for a Test batsman.

Fine knock: Bell's century laid the platform for England's win

Lord’s

Both teams have selection considerations to think about. If all the Aussie bowlers pull up all right, I’d keep the team as it is, though it will be interesting to see what they do with the batting line-up.

England’s question boils down to Steven Finn or Tim Bresnan.

Under pressure: Finn endured a tough time at Trent Bridge

Lord’s should have a bit more pace and bounce in it than Trent Bridge, and that should suit Finn. It’s his home ground, too. I reckon England’s decision to play on a dry pitch in Nottingham almost backfired, and they shouldn’t be too hasty in dropping Finn.

P.S.I was booed at Lord’s in 2009 for reasons that are still a mystery to me — although I’ll always take it as a sign of respect. But I’ll be there on Thursday and, as I’ve mentioned before, if I have a couple of drinks I may decide to boo one or two of the players myself...